Please use the
on-line application which may be found on the South Dakota Department of Education
website, Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality:www.doe.sd.gov/oatq/teachercert.Once there, you have several choices,
including initial licensure (first-time teachers), renewal, additional
authorizations (program completion for principals, reading specialists,
superintendents, etc.), and additional endorsements (for less than program
completion).

InitialRenewalAdditional AuthorizationAdditional EndorsementThe Fredrikson School of Education Certification Officer will send your
official transcript to Pierre for you.Two exceptions:1.If you are in the M.Ed. in Teaching program,
your content is actually from your previous degree; 2. If you have a previous
degree and are here obtaining elementary education certification, much of your
coursework comes from that undergraduate transcript.In both of these cases, we will need to send
an official transcript from your undergraduate institution. If that
undergraduate degree was earned at USF, the Certification Officer will obtain that
one for you, as well.If not, please
have your university send an official transcript directly to Julie McAreavey.That way, everything can be sent together and there is less chance of
mix-up.Although we have an official
transcript from your application process, that transcript must stay in your
file as part of the permanent record.

PLEASE REMEMBER:The Certification Officer cannot sign off
until your grades/degree has been posted, which usually happens in late
December or early June (depending upon your graduation date). If you have an
outstanding balance or another type of hold on your account, the Registrar is
unable to print an official transcript.The sign-off cannot be completed until an official transcript is
available. If you plan to apply for
certification in a different state, it is recommended that you apply in South
Dakota. The fee is very reasonable and most states prefer that you a license
from the state in which you were trained – some require it. You will need to
access a hard copy of the application from other states. Go to their Department
of Education website and search for application materials for individuals who
have been trained out-of-state. Typically, there is a portion that must be
completed by the “Registrar or Certification Officer”, referring to the USF certification
officer. Even if you are missing a requirement, most states will issue a
provisional license for one year.

Julie McAreavey,
Chair/Certification Officer

Fredrikson School
of Education

University of
Sioux Falls

1101 W. 22nd
St.

Sioux Falls,
SD57105

(605) 331-6644
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